NASCAR Driver Derek White Arrested In Big Tobacco-Smuggling Ring

Canadian NASCAR driver Derek White was one of 60 people arrested in what authorities have described as the largest tobacco-smuggling bust in North America.

NASCAR Driver Derek White Arrested In Big Tobacco-Smuggling Ring

White, 45, became the first Native American driver in the Sprint Cup Series when he raced in New Hampshire just last year. Thus far, he’s made 22 career starts in the Xfinity Series and also ran six races in the Camping World Truck Series.

According to NBCSports, the DEA and Homeland Security launched the investigation targeting White and several others in 2014. Approximately 700 law enforcement officials from both the U.S. and Canada performed nearly 70 searches on Wednesday. White turned himself in after learning about his arrest warrant.

White, a native of Kahnawake, Quebec, has been charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud against the government, three counts of fraud against the government, and one count of profiteering as a criminal organization.

Bloomberg reported that White and others implicated in the smuggling ring have been accused of transporting tobacco from North Carolina to Canada. This tobacco was then resold in Canada, and the profits were used to purchase cocaine and other drugs, according to authorities.

The tobacco shipments were not taxed because they were not declared at the border.

Authorities estimated the smuggling operation cost the Canadian government about $530 million in taxes and transported about 2,294 tons of tobacco.

As part of the investigation, authorities seized more than 1,800 pounds of cocaine, 46 pounds of methamphetamine and 35 pounds of cannabis. Authorities also seized more than $1.5 million in Canadian currency and more than $3 million in U.S. currency.

In a statement, Captain Frédérick Gaudreau, Chief of the crime investigation against the State of the Sûreté du Québec, said: “The MYGALE project is the largest ever made to date in America on tobacco smuggling, but also on cross-border crime between Canada and the United States.’”

Caption: LOUDON, NH – JULY 19: Clint Bowyer, driver of the #15 5-Hour Energy Toyota, leads Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 GoDaddy Chevrolet, and Derek White, driver of the #33 Braille Battery/Grafoid Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 5-Hour ENERGY 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 19, 2015 in Loudon, New Hampshire. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena